Michelle Obama Talks About Education and Student Loans

Michelle Obama Talks Affordable Education and Paying Off Student Loans With the President

We are thrilled to share the first answer in our series with First Lady Michelle Obama. Since we're in back-to-school mode, this week we're focusing on education and women's health. Here's the first lady in her own words:

"Fall is officially here, and like a lot of parents around the country, Barack and I are feeling a little sentimental about our girls getting another year older and starting a new grade at school. I can tell many of you are feeling the same way, because I got a lot of questions this week about issues affecting our kids, from education to health care. So, this week, I'll answer some of those — and maybe a couple others as well."

Read on for Michelle's answer to PopSugar reader Ashley Goodman's question. Ashley asks, "What does the president plan on doing in order to help ease some of the financial debt for students?"

We are still taking questions! There are three ways to participate:

1. You can leave your question in the comments section here on PopSugar.com
2. You can tweet using the hashtag #POPSUGAR2012
3. You can leave your question in the tab on our PopSugar Facebook page

We're so excited to hear what's on your mind and to speak to First Lady Michelle Obama together.

PopSugar reader Ashley Goodman asked, "What does the president plan on doing in order to help ease some of the financial debt for students?"

The first lady says:

"When Barack and I were first married, our combined student loan bills were higher than our mortgage every month. In fact, we only finished paying off our student loans about eight years ago, so we remember what it's like to wonder how you're going to get out from under all of that debt.

Unfortunately, since Barack and I were in college, it's only gotten tougher to afford. Tuition costs have gone up four times faster than inflation, putting college out of reach for too many students across the country at a time when we need more students to have access to higher education."

"Barack believes our long-term economic prosperity depends on having the most highly educated and highly skilled workforce in the world. He also believes it's not right for students to come out of school with the deck stacked against them from the very start.

That's why he's doubled funding for Pell grants, which he did by taking billions of dollars in taxpayer money that had been going to banks and middlemen and spending it on students instead. That alone has helped nearly four million more students pay for college."

"He also created a college tax credit that lets families save up to $10,000 over four years to help send their kids to college. Last year, that credit helped more than nine million college students and their families pay for tuition.

And to help young people who are financing their education with loans, Barack fought to keep federal student loan interest rates from doubling this past Summer.

Barack and I know from our own experiences just how important a good education is — and how hard it can be to pay for it. And I'm really proud of how hard he's fighting to put affordable education back within reach for young people in our country."

It's not too late! You can ask the first lady a question, too. We are still taking questions for this series! There are three ways to participate:

1. You can leave your question in the comments section here on PopSugar.com
2. You can tweet using the hashtag #POPSUGAR2012
3. You can leave your question in the tab on our PopSugar Facebook page

We're so excited to hear what's on your mind and to speak to First Lady Michelle Obama together.